Edwin Jackson, D-Backs Avoid Arbitration

The Diamondbacks and Edwin Jacksonavoided arbitration, agreeing to a two-year, $13.35MM deal that will pay the right-hander $4.2MM in 2010 and $8.35MM in 2011. Jackson also receives an $800K signing bonus.

Steve Gilbert of MLB.com first reported the agreement (via Twitter). Jon Heyman of SI.com first reported the terms of the deal (via Twitter) and Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic added detail (via Twitter).

An arbitration hearing had been scheduled for this Wednesday between Jackson, who was seeking $6.25MM, and Arizona, which countered with $4.6MM. The 26-year-old earned $2.2MM last year with the Tigers, so the deal represents a major increase in salary for Jackson, a Scott Boras client.

The two year agreement will cover the remainder of the right-hander's arbitration-eligible years. In other words, Jackson becomes a free agent once this deal expires after the 2011 season.

Jackson enjoyed a strong campaign in 2009, posting an ERA of 3.62 with 6.8 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9 in a career-high 214.0 innings. He walked a higher percentage of hitters and allowed more home runs after the All Star break, so his second half ERA was more than twice his 2.52 first half mark.

Mostly fatigue I think. I was thinking and hoping the same would happen to Porcello to allow the Twins to catch up down the stretch last year, but after a horrendous July, he was terrific in Aug and Sept.

Perhaps I’m missing something, but if Jackson was asking for 6.25, and the Dbacks were offering 4.6, how did he end up with 13.35 over 2 years, averaging 6.7/yr. Obviously most of that will come in the 2nd year, but it’s not like he was a FA after the first year. He was arb. eligible again. If they thought he was only worth 4.6 for this year, in theory that means they think he would have been worth almost 9 million in arbitration next year. I think it’s still a decent deal for the team, but kind of strange for a guy to get more yearly money on a multi-year deal than the team was originally willing to give on a one year deal.

It’s not strange at all for him to get more yearly money than the team was offering. Players are always going to get a yearly salary increase via arbitration. A reasonable settlement for a one-year deal would’ve been around $5.5MM… if he earned $5.5MM this season, then the low-end of what the D’Backs would offer next year would be around $7MM or so with Jackson asking for more, possibly $9-10MM depending on how good his first season in Arizona is.

Jackson winning that case after the 2010 season would end up costing the club a couple million dollars, while straining their relationship with a player they may prefer to lock up.

Jackson’s guaranteed his money now even if he gets injured or has a terrible season and would’ve been otherwise non-tendered; the D’Backs have him at $6.7MM per year, which is likely less than they’d have paid him had they gone year-to-year.

The deal works for both sides, and in all likelihood, Jackson will earn the money. He’s not as good as he was in the first half of 2009, but he’s not as bad as he was in the second half either. You could do a whooooole lot worse than having Edwin as your #3. Plus, he’s moving to the NL West as well, albeit to a more hitter-friendly home park.

Jackson is joining the NL from the AL, he will love the weaker NL and lower his ERA just like everybody else making that swith does and they will have an under 3 ERA pitcher locked up and look like geniuses.

headfirstslide, I disagree on this being a one year rental. I think locking him up for two years gives the D-backs an opportunity to keep him for 2011 as well as insurance if Webby doesn’t resign. If Webb doesn’t resign the team will have $8.5 mill coming off the books. Also, don’t forget that Eric Byrnes is $11 mil coming off the books as well after this season.

I like the move. I’m expecting E-Jax to wind up with a 14-10, 3.45 ERA by seasons end. Not too shabby for a #3 guy. Webby wont be here next year (we’ll let him walk and sign for big bucks elsewhere)… and so we’ll go into 2011 with the following rotation: Haren, E-Jax, Kennedy, Parker & ______. I’m sure with all the $$ we’ll have avail (with webb gone & byrnes off the contract), we’ll have some nice $$ to spend on a quality starter to fill in the gap.

headfirstslide, I disagree on this being a one year rental. I think locking him up for two years gives the D-backs an opportunity to keep him for 2011 as well as insurance if Webby doesn’t resign. If Webb doesn’t resign the team will have $8.5 mill coming off the books. Also, don’t forget that Eric Byrnes is $11 mil coming off the books as well after this season.

You’re right Jdub. That was my blind rage forgetting the facts. It’s been predominately shoulder and elbow problems going back to High School. He’s already had TJ surgery, a DL stint and he labors through innings.

I still think he’s an amazing talent, but as a closer. If I can get rid of him for a durable # 3 then I will.

It might not be that much of a stretch. If he has a 4.28 FIP in the AL, he’ll obviously improve a lot moving to the NL. Maybe to Max Scherzer’s range, which was 3.87 last year (while Scherzer’s might rise to EJax’s range next year). If Jackson outpitches his FIP like he did in ’09, even by just a little bit, he could certainly get to the 3.50 range. I get that’s a lot of ifs, though.

Basically Dbacks are betting that EJax=Scherzer for the next two years (personally, I think Scherzer will implode by then and be a reliever or on the DL) while Jackson provides security and durability.

I see EJ as a slightly below average #2, but a well above average #3. Saying he’s not that good of a pitcher is just plain wrong. It’s not like he’s Yusmiero Petit or Oliver Perez or something.